G650 and G650ER approved to fly precision approaches

Gulfstream Aerospace has recently received approval from the FAA for its Gulfstream G650 and G650ER aircraft to fly Required Navigation Performance with Authorisation Required (RNP AR) instrument approach procedures.

The approval means G650 and G650ER aircraft equipped with PlaneView II and the Aircraft Service Change 901 software upgrade are capable of flying an RNP AR approach to a minimum RNP value of 0.1 nautical miles, including the missed approach segment. Operators interested in flying such approaches must obtain the appropriate operational approval before doing so.

“RNP AR procedures provide immense operational benefits. It gives our operators better access to high-traffic areas and airports with terrain challenges. It also saves them time and reduces fuel consumption.”

Dan Nale, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream said: “RNP AR procedures provide immense operational benefits. It gives our operators better access to high-traffic areas and airports with terrain challenges. It also saves them time and reduces fuel consumption.”

Airplanes approved for RNP AR approaches are equipped with aircraft systems that navigate with a higher degree of accuracy and provide automatic monitoring of the system’s navigational performance. If a certain navigational performance objective isn’t met, the system alerts the crew so they can take appropriate action.

The G650 and G650ER join the G550 and G450, which received FAA approval for RNP AR approaches to RNP 0.3 minima in 2007 and RNP 0.1 minima in 2010.